Chip Stern just posted his review of the Adagios on 6moons and they received a Blue Moon award. I know these awards are subjective as heck but every "award winner" on that site that I have experienced is spot on. I like the Zu line of speakers and will always have a pair on hand because they represent the absolute best value for extreme high efficiency but the Adagios are just SOOOO much more refined. I understand that Acoustic Zen is set to introduce a matching stand mount monitor voiced similarly to the Adagios for use in home theater. I do not have a home theater setup, just 2 channel setups.
My primary system for the record, I run Adagios (replaced B&W 802d) with a McIntosh MA2275 (replaced BAT VK 300XSE) and a Cary 306SACD (replaced Cary 306-200), AZ Silver Reference II IC's (replaced Redge Street Poeima !!) and AZ Hologram II speaker cables (replaced Synergistic Res Ref), Furutech Evolution power cables (replaced Synergistic Ref A/C master couplers) and a Running Springs Audio Duke power conditioner (replaced Richard Gray).
This setup is so coherent, dynamic, uncolored, natural and clean. Detail without overanalysis....I am back to listening to music instead of equipment....and you all know what I mean. The Acoustic Zen Adagio loudspeakers are tube friendly without excluding quality solid state. You do not need a ton of power as the meters on my McIntosh MA2275 (75 wpc KT88 tube integrated) never hit 7.5 watts except on dynamic peaks (I run off the 8 ohm taps) listening at a moderately high level (too loud to converse with someone in the room, not so loud that the walls shake).
Audition these speakers and decide for yourself. I was skeptical until I tried them in my home as there is very little info on them, and zilch on the Acoustic Zen website. I have heard that the next version of the Adagio will not have as extravagant a finish as the maple burl finish on mine. My wife flipped out positively when I moved out the B&W 802ds and replaced them with the Adagios. She is not an audiophile but she preferred the Adagios to the 802ds once they were set up and she has no clue about the price difference (she stated she could hear things on the Adagios that "sounded more right" to her than from the 802d and the Adagio bass is real sounding to her and not so "fake"...her words, not mine B&W disciples...she also likes my Zus although they are not comparable to the B&Ws in her opinion, just different). I have heard that Acoustic Zen did not want to generate more demand for the speakers than they could supply, thus the website exclusion. Seems plausible and when you hear them, you will likely agree if not purchase on the spot.
Peace.
